Falcons plaster UP to snap 6-game skid

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Aug 31st 2013

Host Adamson University gave its wounded pride a few stitches of reprieve Saturday as the out-of-the-running Falcons blasted University of the Philippines (UP), 67-53, in the 76^th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Falcons bucked the absence of main man Jericho Cruz with a fluid offensive game anchored on veterans Roider Cabrera, Jansen Rios, and the hulking presence of import Ingrid Sewa underneath to finally snap a six-game losing skid.

“The past two weeks was really hard for us especially to the coach. Today is a sigh of relief because everybody is trying to down us especially my ability to coach. But we have to finish the season with pride,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria after the Falcons improved to 4-8.

Hardly challenged by UP’s frontline, the 6-foot-8 Sewa dominated the middle en route to a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds, on top of three blocks. Cabrera and Rios backed him up with 17 and 16 while Don Trollano added 11.

“I am happy to see this team winning again. I hope in our last two games against UE and FEU, we’ll play well again. We want to make a statement even if we are out of the Final Four. Ang pinaglalabanan dito ay pride e.”

Austria was right on cue.

Despite missing Cruz, Adamson grabbed the initiative early on, unleashing a 14-0 run highlighted by back-to-back treys from Cabrera to claim a 17-6 lead.

UP quickly cut the deficit with baskets from Raul Soyud, Andres Desiderio, and Sam Marata, 16-22 midway into the second period. But back-to-back trifectas from Trollano plus a Sewa lay-up doused the Maroons’ mini-run and restored Adamson’s double-digit advantage, 33-19, with 3:14 left.

Yet Soyud, Marata, and rookie Kyles Lao kept on nailing their shots come third quarter to fuel a blistering 13-2 onslaught that put the Maroons within, 36-39, with 3:31 remaining.

Sewa then responded with five straight points to ignite a 7-2 blitz, giving Adamson some breathing room, 46-38, heading into the final canto.

Adamson continued to raid UP’s defense in the fourth with Cabrera and Sewa at the fore. The Maroons though answered with a pair of buckets from Lao and a Soyud mid-range jumper to come within, 51-59.

But that proved to the Maroons last stand as the Falcons unloaded eight straight points in the final 2:35 while keeping the Maroons scoreless on the other end for the win.

Soyud lead UP with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Marata and Lao had eight apiece for the Maroons, who remained winless in ten games.

The scores:

ADU 67 – Sewa 18, Cabrera 17, Rios 16, Trollano 11, Inigo 4, Monteclaro 1, Petillos 0, Ochea 0, Brondial 0, Agustin 0.

UP 53 – Soyud 17, Marata 8, Lao 8, Asilum 7, Desiderio 4, Ball 4, Wong 2, Pascual 2, Ligad 1, Suarez 0, Gingerich 0, Amar 0.

Quarter scores: 20-14, 35-24, 46-38, 67-53.